This really is an imperative process we should all consider. My wife and I have done this where we can. But it is truly challenging to reclaim your data and control of technical access.
For instance, as a parent, the public school system my kids go to relies on a lot of tech and apps for communication to parents. It is challenging to deal with because each school and each school staff have their own tools they use. When kids switch grades or move to the next school, tech changes. But one of us is required to be connected to stay informed.
Personally, I started with social media reduction. It was better for my sanity, and it was an easy way to control what I use. I don't have any social apps on my phone, except YouTube. I connect to Bluesky and Reddit via browser. I deleted my original Facebook account (and restarted a new one exclusively for Marketplace). I still have other accounts out there in the world, but working to delete or curate those one by one too (like figuring out how to regain access to ancient ones).
I admit that this is a very long road to walk, and short of a total apocalyptic global technical ending, I'll be on it forever. But, as you said, the perfectionism of values, data, and technical ownership, gets people stuck. So one step at a time on that responsible understanding of my personal data.
This rings way too true for comfort. Honestly, I check my phone in the am to see if ole bonespurs pushed us further, even as I type that I recognize the ridiculousness...he's in office because we already were over the edge.... ok.....delete my games and get out a deck of cards. Have a book to read and one waiting. One Just For Fun. That's my start. Thanks for posting this
👍 I did all this and then put together a guide about it. And linked to a couple other helpful guides for people too. It bothers me that the vast majority of people don't care, but I try not to think about what I can't control. One example is how at No Kings I had my phone off the whole time and everyone else in the free world was walking around scanning QR codes. I'm like seriously even after that NYT article about administrative subpoenas a couple months back... come on people.
Thank you for sharing all of this and breaking it down in a way that makes it less overwhelming to actually start doing something!
I recently decided I want to turn my smartphone into a “dumb phone” as much as possible for my own attention and mental health, but I didn’t even consider how much on there isn’t “just an app”…it’s data feeding into a larger system that I do not want to support, and I have the power (however small) to redirect to something better.
That’s really important and helpful to hear, especially at a time when things can feel so hopeless. Progress, not perfection; this is the way.
This really is an imperative process we should all consider. My wife and I have done this where we can. But it is truly challenging to reclaim your data and control of technical access.
For instance, as a parent, the public school system my kids go to relies on a lot of tech and apps for communication to parents. It is challenging to deal with because each school and each school staff have their own tools they use. When kids switch grades or move to the next school, tech changes. But one of us is required to be connected to stay informed.
Personally, I started with social media reduction. It was better for my sanity, and it was an easy way to control what I use. I don't have any social apps on my phone, except YouTube. I connect to Bluesky and Reddit via browser. I deleted my original Facebook account (and restarted a new one exclusively for Marketplace). I still have other accounts out there in the world, but working to delete or curate those one by one too (like figuring out how to regain access to ancient ones).
I admit that this is a very long road to walk, and short of a total apocalyptic global technical ending, I'll be on it forever. But, as you said, the perfectionism of values, data, and technical ownership, gets people stuck. So one step at a time on that responsible understanding of my personal data.
This rings way too true for comfort. Honestly, I check my phone in the am to see if ole bonespurs pushed us further, even as I type that I recognize the ridiculousness...he's in office because we already were over the edge.... ok.....delete my games and get out a deck of cards. Have a book to read and one waiting. One Just For Fun. That's my start. Thanks for posting this
👍 I did all this and then put together a guide about it. And linked to a couple other helpful guides for people too. It bothers me that the vast majority of people don't care, but I try not to think about what I can't control. One example is how at No Kings I had my phone off the whole time and everyone else in the free world was walking around scanning QR codes. I'm like seriously even after that NYT article about administrative subpoenas a couple months back... come on people.
these are hard habits to break! thanks for contributing to the collective consciousness
The single most culpable organization in normalizing this level of surveillance, of course, is Facebook, now meta. I wrote about a memoir written by its former public policy leader. She’s not blameless, but nether are we. This is another data point (hah) to support your reimagining of our society. https://thesabbaticalist.substack.com/p/the-sabbaticalist-057-review-of-careless?r=8x7pe&utm_medium=ios
Thank you so much for what you do.
Thank you for sharing all of this and breaking it down in a way that makes it less overwhelming to actually start doing something!
I recently decided I want to turn my smartphone into a “dumb phone” as much as possible for my own attention and mental health, but I didn’t even consider how much on there isn’t “just an app”…it’s data feeding into a larger system that I do not want to support, and I have the power (however small) to redirect to something better.
That’s really important and helpful to hear, especially at a time when things can feel so hopeless. Progress, not perfection; this is the way.